SCOTT Prince is one of just three premiership winning halfbacks in the NRL, yet finds himself in a heated battle just to play first grade in 2013.

The 32-year-old former Test star is not the only big name fighting for survival.

More than half of the NRL's clubs will spend the summer searching for a definitive answer over who will wear the pivotal No.7 next season.

Even grand final halfback Kris Keating will find pressure on his job at Canterbury, with Trent Hodkinson on the comeback trail from a serious shoulder injury.

Whether it's a decline in the number of superstar sevens or the fact that young playmakers are simply taking longer to mature, you can't escape the fact that few halfbacks are untouchable in the NRL nowadays.

"There's only about six established halfbacks in the game,'' one NRL recruiter said this week. You could say there's a few more, but are they really top notch halfbacks?''

Parramatta's Chris Sandow, Warrior Shaun Johnson, Cronulla's Jeff Robson and Panther Luke Walsh have all been dropped at times in their careers.

At Canterbury, Canberra, North Queensland and Newcastle, the return from injury or suspension of playmakers has clouded selection while retirements, departures or new recruits at Brisbane, Gold Coast, St George Illawarra and Wests Tigers have given their coaches options to ponder.

Broncos coach Anthony Griffin has made it perfectly clear that Prince starts from the back of his halfback queue, with incumbent Peter Wallace holding the position unless the rep star forces his way in.

Broncos star Justin Hodges believes Prince could even find a position at five-eighth, as he offers the creative attack lacking when Brisbane's 2012 season faded into week one finals submission.

"He is a great leader,'' Hodges said. "For him it was bad the way it went at the Titans but for us it's a good thing, we've got a quality five-eighth or halfback. Having Princey there is going to make us a whole lot more dangerous.''

In North Queensland, the return of Robert Lui from an off-field suspension has delivered coach Neil Henry a three-way battle for the No.7. Michael Morgan and Ray Thompson both showed glimpses of potential in 2012, while the Cowboys showed patience to stand by Lui during his ban knowing he too could be their long-term halfback at his best.

"We think we have three of the better young halves in the game,'' Cowboys general manager of football Peter Parr said.

"None are over 22 years of age. That will be good for us, especially come Origin time when we lose JT (Johnathan Thurston).''

The Titans also have a three-way tussle following Prince's exit, with Jordan Rankin, Beau Henry and Albert Kelly the top contenders to partner young five-eighth Aidan Sezer. They too are all 22 or under but coach John Cartwright believes playing without Prince will advance their development and afford the youngsters their time to shine.

"Princey was a great player and great for the club but I really think the younger guys will be more responsible now that Princey's not there,'' Cartwright said recently.

"They'll have to step up their involvement and running of the team. Without a guy with the senior presence Princey had, that's really going to help (Aidan) Sezer, (William) Zillman, (Jordan) Rankin, Albert Kelly, Matt Srama, Beau Falloon. I think they're going to naturally take more responsibility.''

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